Good Morning All!
Happy Birthday to my “better half”, Judy, who was born on this day in 1957 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lewiston, Idaho. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, for sure. She is beloved by so many and a shining light to all who know her. She is wise beyond her years and is a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. Her love for others is steadfast and she is beautiful inside and out. Here’s to you, sweetie, on your special day of celebration! Have fun & enjoy!
Happy Birthday wishes also go to my dear childhood friend, Evelyne in Vancouver, B.C., wife, mother & ballet dancer extraordinaire (among many other talents); and to my friend, Helen, who celebrates her 65th birthday today. Here’s to both of you!
Speaking of my friend, Evelyne, prayers are lifted up for her beloved husband Stephen, who is undergoing health challenges at this time. May God give wisdom and discernment to his health care providers and internal strength to sustain him through his treatment and that a good outcome is realized.
The luncheon for Christ Kitchen was a great success! Over $54,000 was raised to help sustain this ministry that serves women coming out of abusive situations, substance abuse, mental illness, and/or a number of other disadvantageous circumstances. Inspirational messages were given by Kevin Parker, the owner of a number of Dutch Brothers coffee shops throughout the greater Spokane area who spoke on the two greatest commandments given to us by our Creator….to love Him with all our heart & mind and to love our neighbors/others as ourselves. As Kevin shared, everything hangs on these truths and to live them out in our lives is life changing. The testimonies from a number of women involved with the Kitchen were moving. If you are interested in finding out more about the work of Christ Kitchen, you can visit their web site at www.christkitchen.org or by contacting Kim, Kelly, the Kitchen’s Executive Director at kim@christkitchen.org and/or by phone at (509) 325-4343. You’ll be glad you did!
I walked out my back door yesterday morning and was met by a fairly large Cooper’s Hawk sitting on our deck, presumably waiting to see if he/she could capture some sparrows for breakfast. I mentioned before that we have quite a congregation of sparrows, chickadees and other small birds frequenting our bird feeders. Well, that has attracted a larger “bird of prey” looking for a meal! I guess that’s what they refer to as “the circle of life”, but I must admit I feel compelled to be a protector of the “defenseless”. The good news is that the small birds know enough to duck into the privet hedge right next to the feeders and the Cooper’s Hawk doesn’t dare try to enter in to the hedge for fear of being forever caught up in its intricately woven branches…a natural place of safety for the small birds…how about that?
As some of you know, we lost a good friend and an inspirational human being in every sense of the word, Diego Senn, a little over a year ago in an airplane accident while he was training two other aspiring missionary pilots. Diego, his wife Naomi and his children are an exceptional family. It’s been our privilege to get to know them over the years. Judy & I have been able to purchase some homes over the years and then rent them out to folks at below market rent to provide descent, affordable housing to them and to assist them in saving money so that they can buy a home of their own. Well, Naomi told us recently that she found a home to purchase for her and her kids. What great news! Naomi shared with us that she hopes to use her home as a place of hospitality to fellow missionary pilot families connected with Moody Aviation, which has a training facility here in Spokane. Diego was a hero to me and he lived his life as a strong witness to the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was one of the brightest lights in this world. He joins other missionary pilots like Nate Saint of Mission Aviation Fellowship who gave their lives in service to our Creator. Nate and fellow missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming and Roger Youderian, gave their lives in 1956 to bring the gospel to the Waodani tribe of Ecuador. Today many members of that tribe have found Christ and continue Nate’s legacy by sharing the gospel with their own people in Ecuador. If you ever thought about purchasing homes to provide opportunities for housing for people like Diego and Naomi, please let me know and I’d be happy to share how we do it.
Many of you football fans out there are acquainted with Howie Long, the former Oakland/Los Angeles Raider linebacker/defensive lineman great who now is part of the “NFL Today” commentating crew. Well, he attributes Earl Leggett, whose 1969 Topps Football Card is in my collection with making him a great football player and has said that Earl was “like a father” to him when Earl was a Raider assistant defensive line coach. Howie long also said that playing for Earl Leggett was like “playing for John Wayne.” Earl Leggett was born in Palatka, Florida in 1933 and played high school football at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida and then at Hinds High School in Raymond, Mississippi, graduating in 1952. He played college football at Louisiana State University (LSU) and was the 13th pick overall in the 1957 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. His NFL career with the Bears, the Los Angeles Rams and the expansion New Orleans Saints spanned 11 years. While Earl was with the Bears from 1957 to 1965 he played at both defensive tackle and defensive end positions. He was part of the famed “Monsters of the Midway” defense that led the Bears to the 1963 NFL Championship. While statistics on sacks were not recorded during his career, he is credited with 16 fumble recoveries, 1 safety and 1 interception during his NFL playing days. His 1969 Topps Football Card says that he “is extremely tough against running plays and closes the gap very well on pass defense…He’s got fine speed…” Earl did outstanding community service work in Mississippi and the Gulf Coast during his life. He first played college football at Hinds Jr. College which was the only school that would give him a chance due to academic circumstances. He started playing for them at 16 (which was then legal) and was able to raise his academic standing to get into LSU. After his NFL playing days, he had a lengthy and distinguished career as an assistant football coach for a number of NFL teams (including two Raiders teams that won Super Bowls XV & XVIII and helped shape the careers of Howie Long, Lyle Alzado, & Michael Strahan. He had four children and 14 grandchildren at the time of his death in 2008 at the age of 75. Here’s to Earl Leggett!
Here are some thoughts for the day:
Where to you go to find hope? Do we find hope in some thing, some person in this world? Or do we find hope in something, some person who is eternal? Is hope everlasting in the face of the uncertainties of life or does our hope come and go with the challenges we face? Life has a way of throwing daunting challenges our way that make us feel like we’re trapped. Men and women who served effectively at their jobs for years find themselves out of work and out of options. Young people face a future absent of the opportunities known by their parents and grandparents—their education seemingly wasted as they fill the next coffee order. In many parts of the world, danger abounds—extremists’ terror activities on one hand and poverty on the other. Natural disasters inflict inexpressible loss on communities and entire regions. The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and the psychologist Erik Erikson have differing views of hope: Nietzsche said “Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man”, whereas Erikson said “Hope is both the earliest and the most indispensable virtue inherent in the state of being alive. If life is to be sustained, hope must remain, even where confidence is wounded, trust impaired.” When confidence is wounded, trust is impaired to what or to whom should we look to for a source of hope that is eternally sustainable…reliable?
“You’re only as good as your last haircut.”
—Fran Lebowitz, actress
“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
—Isaiah, Chapter 40, verse 31
Here’s to a great Wednesday & Judy’s (Nana’s) birthday!
Press on,
Papa ‘a (Dad, Uncle Mark, etc.)